Trial for Sunnyside teen charged with killing his cousin set for Dec. 8

YAKIMA - Following a pre-trial hearing Wednesday, a 14-year-old Sunnyside teen faces a trial and additional charges in connection with a late October shooting that left 11-year-old Nora Gonzalez dead.

Yakima County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Bill Eller said based on information his department received, the teen now faces an additional charge of second degree unlawful possession of a firearm, which is a class C felony. Eller said this charge carries a mandatory sentence of 10 days. Eller said an additional 30 days can be added to the sentence.

The 14-year-old teen already faces first degree manslaughter and firearm enhancement charges in connection with the shooting death of his 11-year-old cousin.

The charges stem from an Oct. 28 incident in which the teen is believed to have shot Gonzalez in the forehead at his Sunnyside residence on South Fourth Street. Gonzalez later died from the gunshot wound at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

During Wednesday's pre-trial hearing, the defense asked that the teen be released from the Yakima County Juvenile Detention Center on electronic home monitoring. Eller successfully opposed the defense's motion.

"We think he is a danger to others because of a lack of supervision at home," said Eller.

The teen remains in custody at the Yakima County Juvenile Detention Center.